A project for Pen-L

[phillp2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Michael,

(and others) have been lamenting the failure of Pen-l to look at the
current economic problems etc.   I have a practical (?) suggestion.

I teach a course called "Canadian Economic Problems" and also
am frequently called upon to lecture on "free trade" and its
implications, etc.  What I do not have is a comprehensive critique
of so-called free trade, all the agreements etc.  What I would like to
see is pen-l put together a comprehensive critique of 'free trade'
(sic) that we could use in classes, public protests, media, etc. with
all the appropriate academic references to studies, reports, etc.

I know of a number of studies (such as the excellent one by CEPR)
on globalism and (the failure of) growth.  But I don't know them all.
Nor do I know of all of the studies on NAFTA and job destruction
such as the one by EPI/CCPA.  What I would like to see is a
series of reports, not overly long, by interested pen-l members of
the evils of 'free trade' and its effects.  Something that we could put
together and download (or get students to download) that would
give a comprehensive theoretical and empirical critique of the 'free
trade conspiracy' with all the appropriate footnotes/URLs to relevant
studies/reports/websites.

I am not suggesting whole articles.  Indeed that would make the
project useless -- but rather short 500-1000 word summaries of a
group of empirical and/or theoretical literature.

Is this a feasible project?  Or is it academic wishthinking?  I do
think we need to give our young people in the trenches some
theoretical and practical evidence to maintain their resolve, never
mind our own.

Paul Phillips,
Economics,
University of Manitoba